Washing machine



Jan. 12, 1932. E. J. PERRY I 1,840,328

WASHING mcmma Filed Aug. 22. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 6, I 4 gjwuento'o Emanuel zll'err @W ZW E. J. PERRY WASHING MACHINE Jan. 12, 1932.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22. 192'! gwumoz Emanuel 11 8173! Jan. 12, 1932. E. J. PERRY WASHING MACHINE Filea Aug. 22, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Qwwnto o Emanuele/Eng E. J. PERR Y WASHING MACHINE Jan. 12, 1932.

Filed Aug. 22, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gmmlioo Emanuel Jferzy Patented Jan. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EMANUEL J". FERRY, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN MENTS, TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, OF NORWOOD, OHIO,

A conronn'rro'n or OHIO WASHING MACHINE Application filed August 22, 1927. Serial No. 214,694.

This invention relates to washing machines of the type illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 119,944, filed July 1, 1926, and more particularl to a power transmission system and mec anism for such a machine whereby to improve its operation and enlarge its field of usefulness.

In a washing machine constructed in ac icordance with the disclosure of the above mentioned application, a substantial portion ofthe driving mechanism for the rotary cylinder is located within the machine casing andin contact with the washing solution.

I Thisisituation practically precludesv the use V cleaning medium as distinguished from Y washing operations wherein water or a water solution] is employed.

It is an object of my invention to provide a transmission mechanismfor washing machines of the type indicated such as will permit the use of such' machines both for washing and for cleaning operations without any danger of explosions caused by static electricity as in the case of cleaning operations.

A further'object resides in the construction of a washing machine wherein the transmission mechanism is so located as to preclude any contact. therewith of the cleaning fluid.

A further object of my invention is to provide a washing machine of the self-dump ng type with a simple and efficient transmission 7 mechanism embodying cylinder rotating and cylinder elevating means together with a control mechanism for selectively effecting these operations. i

A further object relates to a transmission and control mechanism as above characterized and incombination with further controlling means for the prime mover of the machine and for the washing cylinder thereof. Y i g It is a further object of my'invention to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of washing machines of the type indicated above.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the following description of the structure shown in the drawings. The following views illustrate one manner of achieving the several objects outlined above:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a selfdumping washing machine of the cylinder type with which the transmission and control mechanism of my invention is combined,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of the machine represented in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the entire washing machine with my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the selective driving mechanism between the prime mover and the two main transmission shafts of the machine Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. i, and V Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a portion of my improved driving mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view showing in detail the operating. mechanism employed for shifting a gear in the cylinder transmission mechanism.

Fig.8 is a similar view to Fig. 1 and discloses the movement of the cylinder from the casing.

The type of washing machine with which my present improvements are adapted to be combined is fully exemplified in my copending application above referred to. This machine comprises generally a cylindrical housing construction within which is mounted a washing cylinder. The construction further embodies a means in the form of pivotally mounted gear sectors whereon the opposite ends of the washing cylinder are carried, for moving said cylinder upwardly and outwardly with reference to the machine casing and into a position wherein the contents of the cylinder may be readily discharged into 'a waiting receptacle. There isfurther provided in this machine, means for selectively transmitting power either to rotate the washing cylinder or to operate the gear sectors for moving the cylinder upwardly and outwardly of the casing and into sel dumping position. My present invention is more particularly concerned with an improved transmission mechanism for effecting the rotating and elevating operations to- I gether with a control'mechanism involving.

- after further. described.

' all? 'theselective control of the two drives men- .posite ends with. axially aligned driving shafts 3 which project outwardly through the end walls of the casing 1. These shafts 3, orat least one of them, is provided with a large gear 4 which constitutes the main driving' gear for the cylinder. As more clearly illustrated in the. above mentioned application,.the shafts 3 are adapted to restin jour nals provided inthe end walls" of the casing These shafts, however are'. further jour naledand supported upon the horizontal' arms 5 of the gear sectors 6 for ajpurpose which is clearlyset forth in the above mentioned. application and which will be herein These sectors are pivotally mounted on the. casi'ngat a point adjacentlthe forward. side of the machine as indicated at 6 in Fig. 1. twill be understood,:.of course, that the periphery of the gearsectors 6' are provided. with suitable gear teeth for engagement with power transmission gearing to be hereinafter described.

The transmissionmechanism for operating the main driving gear of the cylinder and the gear sectors involves an electric or other type of motor 7 which is-suitably mounted at the rear and top of the washing machine by means of suitable brackets 8 secured to the oppositeends of the machine casing; These s o cr-wi 's ita e .conne i bracket t eth th u bl ct ng members form the support for the motor and the intermediate power transmitting devices;

The shaft 11 of themotor is adapted to selectivelydrive the two main transmission. shafts 9and 10 which are journaled attheir opposite ends. in the aforementioned brackets; Any suitable driving mechanism may, be em-' ployed between the motor and these two" shafts-for the selectiveoperation'ofthe latter but, I prefer to use the type of selective gearmg illustrated inmy 'copending application above mentioned; For the sake of cleainess,

Twill briefly describe this mechanism herein andltsrelatlon to my present improvements.

Referring particularly to Figs. l and 5 of the drawings, it will be seen that the motor shaft 11 is provided with a fixedly positioned gear 12. The motor shaft 11 is capablejof longitudinal shifting movement for bringing the gearing. 12 intoengagement with either of the power transmitting gears 13 and 14 which are mounted on the transmission shaft 9.

The gear leis keyed or otherwise perma i nently secured for rotation with the shaft 9, while the gear -13v is loosely mounted thereon and is provided with a laterally extending sleeve which projects through the housing 15 which encloses this portion of the driving mechanism. The sleeve extension of the gear 13 has secured thereto abeveled gear 16 which is arranged in permanent meshing engagement with. a bevelled gear 17 secured. at the upper end of the angularly disposed shaft 18. The shaft 18 carries atits lower enda worm 19 for coacti'on with a worm wheel 21 secured to the second transmission shaft. 10. A. housing encloses this portion of the driving mechanism and. forms a continuation or extenslon of the gear housing 15.. By virtue of this structure it will be apparent that shafts Sand 10 may be selectively driven by merely shifting the motor shaft and pinion" 12 longitudinally to bring the pinion 12 into engagementwith either the gear 13" or gear 14. In thisconnection. it is noted that the mechanism is'so. designed. as to'impart to the shaft 9' a relatively high speeddrive whereas the drive of shaft 10 is a relatively low speed drive by virtue of the reduction effected by the worm gearing.

The mechanism for operating the cylinder rotating and cylmder elevating meansfrom the respective transmission shafts will now.

be described. Referring particularly to Figs. land 3, it will be seen that the transmission shaft 9 is provided withedrivingpinions 25, one located at each end thereof. The pinions 25 are arranged to permanentlymesh; with:

idler pinions 26 which are mounted. upon fixed stubshafts. 27 secured .to the end.

brackets 8. Stub shafts 28'are also fixed in the end brackets 8 and each of thesev stub shafts is provided. with atransmitting gear 29" which meshesbothwith the idler gears 26 and with the large gears 4 which are secured for rotation' with the washing cylinder. The stub shafts 28 also carry relatively larger gears which are in permanent meshing engagement with the toothed? peripheries. of the sectors 6. "The gears 30'arearrang ed to be per: manentlyengagedby pinions 30 carried at opposite ends of the second transmission shaft 10. From so much of the description as has been givenwith reference to the trans- 1;

mission mechanism, it should readily appear that an operative connection between the motor shaft ,11 and the transmission shaft 9 produces rotation of-the main cylinder driving gear {t while the establishment of an operative connection between the motor shaft and the transmission shaft 10 serves to operate the relatively large gear 30 which in turn operates the gear sectors 6. There is thus provided a selective drive between the motor and washing cylinder on the one hand, and from the motor to the cylinder elevating sectors on the other.

When the gear sectors are operated to elevate the washing cylinder, it is apparent that the main driving gear 4 carried by the cylinder shaft must break its operative connection with its immediate source of power, which in the present instance is the gear 29. In the present instance wherein a gear is directly meshed with the main driving gear of the'cylinder, the movement of the cylinder out of the casing would necessarily involve the unmeshing of its two gears and the return of the cylinder into the casing would, of course, necessitate the reengagement as between the teeth of these two gears. In the absence of any special provision in this con nection it is apparent that a perfect reengagement of the teeth of the gears 4 and 29 upon the return movement of the cylinder to the casing would be extremely uncertain. Any relative movement between these two gears after their unmeshing would tend to prevent the proper reengagement with their,

teeth. With this and other objects in view I have provided a means whereby the driving connection between the prime mover and the main driving gear may be broken at the point of connection with the main driving gear and have provided suitable controls whereby the breaking of this connection is made in a proper sequence with reference to the other operations and functions of the machine and entirely independently of any novement of the cylinder. To this end, the gear 29 is arranged to be longitudinally slidable upon the stub shaft 28 to such an extent as to entirely remove it from engagement with the cylinder driving gear 4. This shifted position of the gear is quite clearly illustrated in dot-ted lines in Figs. 2 and 6 of the drawings. As also clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the idler gear 26 is provided with a comparatively wide face whereby the gear 29 remains in engagement with a portion of the idler 26 even when moved to its extreme position wherein it is entirely out of engagement with the main gear 4. This arrangement eliminates the difliculties which would be encountered if the gear 29 were moved entirely out of mesh with'both the idler and the driving gear and also eliminates any possibility of clashing or breakage of the gear teeth upon the return movement of the cylinder into the casing.

Any suitable means may be utilized for effecting the longitudinalshifting movement of the gear 29. However, I have illustrated in the drawings and preferably employ a shifting mechanism comprising a casing portion 33 provided with an angularly disposed cam slot 34 through which the pin 39 having an anti-friction roller 40 is adapted to extend. This pin 39 is secured to or forms a part of a slip ring or shift collar 36 which has a loose connection with the flange 35 carried by the sleeved extension of the shiftable gear 29. The collar 36 also carries an arm 37 which extends through the slot 38 of the casing 33, whereby the collar may be rotated. It is apparent that a rotary movement of the collar 36 must be accompanied by a corresponding longitudinal movement thereof by reason of the pin 40 having engagement with the angularly disposed slot 34 of the stationary casing 33. The operating connections for the collar 36 comprise a link 41 connected to one end of the arm 37 and at its opposite end to a bell crank lever 42. The bell crank lever 42 is secured to a shaft 43 which extends lengthwise of the washing machine casing and at the rearward side thereof. The opposite end of the bell crank lever is connected by a link 45 with an operating lever 46 pivoted at the front side of the machine as indicated at 47. The end of shaft 43 opposite to that shown in Fig. l of the drawings is provided with an arm 42 for actuating the gear shift at the opposite end of the machine through connections which are duplicates of those just described. It will thus be seen that the lever 46 serves to simultaneously shift the slidable gears 29 at the opposite ends of the washing machine for connecting or disconnecting the main cylinder driving gears and the transmission shaft 9.

It is apparent that some means must be provided for effecting the shifting of the motor shaft to bring it into operative relation with the respective transmission shafts 9 and 10 and it should also be apparent that the control of this mechanism should be coordinated with the shifting of the cylinder driving gears. It is well known that in ina chines of the character herein described, the drive for the rotating cylinder is in the nature of an alternating rotary drive. he drive for elevating the cylinder is a uni-directional drive during the respective periods of moving the cylinder out of and into the casing, although the drive must be reversed for these two periods of operation. My control mechanisms as regards the selective op eration of the two transmission shafts cmbodies a longitudinally shiftable shaft 24' slidably mounted in a stationary bracket 48. The adjacent ends of the shafts 11 and 24 are suitably spaced apart and carry circular discs 22 and 23 which coact with the casing or coupling member 24 to provide a loose or non-rotative connection between the two shafts. By means of this construction the shaft 11 rotates independently of shaft 24 tance beyond the stationary bracket 48 and ously with at its outer extremity has fixed thereto a casting 49. In order to shift the shaft 24 longitudinally throughits supporting bracket 48, I have provided an actuating mechanism consisting of a relatively long link pivoted to the bracket a relatively short link 51 pivoted to a casting 49 and the two links being pivoted together at 52 interme diate the ends of the link 50. The outer'end of link 50 is secured to a connecting rod 53 which rod is connected at its opposite end to an arm 54 rigidly secured to the rock shaft l3. It will beappreciated that the rock shaft 43 is actuated by the lever 46 and the ear shifting connectionsabovc described and that such operation acts to simintaneously shift the longitudinal position of the control shaft 2 f. This control mechanism is so arranged that when the shiftable gear 29 is in engagement with the cylinder gear 4, the shaft. 24 will be in a position corresponding to the engaged position of'the motor gear 12 and gear 14 of the transmission shaft 9, while when gear 29 is in 1ts disengaged position,

the-motor gear 12 will be with the gear 13 for driving the secondtransmission.

shaft 10 which in turn operates the cylinder elevating mechanism. These controls are thus properly coordinated to throw out one drivewhen the other'is desires to be effective andivice versa. it is apparent that the action of the motor 7 must be changed from the alternating rotary drive employed during the washing operation and a uni-directional drive when it is desired to elevate the waslv ing cylinder. To this end I have provided a circuit controlling switch represented diagrammatically and indicated at 56, which switch is adapted to be actuated simultanethe selection of the desired drive of the two transmission shafts. To this end, the casting 49 is provided with a downwardly extending arm which has operative connectionwith tie switch box 56 for suitably altering the motor circuit to accord with these different operating requirements. Thus it will be seen that'by means of the single control lever 4:6 the gear'29 is shifted into and out of driving engagement with the gear 4:, the motor shaft is'shi ted to bring its driving pinion into engagement with the driving gears for either of the transmission shafts 9 and 10V and the motor circuit is altered to accord with the operating connections selected. I

By the means described above, I have adapted a highly developed type of washing machine to use in the cleaning industry and have accomplished this in such a manner as to practically eliminate the possibilityof explosions which mi ht otherwisearise by means of the static electricity created by moving parts of the transmission mechanism being in close proximity to the combustible cleaning fluid. .Moreover, the features of my invention outlined above are distinct improvements in the type of machine with which they are associated regardless of whether the machine be used for ordinary laundry purposes or for cleaning operations. Vfhile my invention has been described in combination with a washing machine of the type illustrated in my copending application above identified, it should be appreciated that a great many features of the machine therein shown might be dispensed with without in any way impairing the value or advantages of my improvements and that such mechaism or improvements might in fact be advanta geously combined with machines differin g widely in character from that herein illustrated and referred to. Itshould also be appreciated that numerous changes might be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts going to make up the transmission and control mechanisms herein set forth without sacrificing the advantages thereof or departing from the spirit of my invention. The specific disclosure herein made is, therefore, to be regarded as an illustration merely of one mechanical embodiment of my invention and not as a limitation thereon.

v WVhat I claim is:

1. The combination with a washing machine of the rotary cylinder type having a casing enclosing a rotary washing cylinder and. driving shafts secured to and projecting from opposite ends of the cylinder and extending through the end walls of the casing, of a pair of gear sectors located respectively at opposite ends of said casing and pivoted thereon in eccentric relation to the longitudinal axis of said cylinder and casing, supports on the respective sectors for receiving the respective driving shafts, a main driving gear on at least one of said driving shafts, external of said casing, a transmission shaft, a constant mesh gear rain connecting said transmission shaft withat least one of said gear sectors for operating the latter, a second transmission shaft, a disengageable gear train connecting said second transmis sion shaft with said main cylinder driving gear and means for selectively driving either ofsaid transmission shafts.

' 2. In a washing machine, the combination of cylinder rotating and cylinder elevating nee-11s, said elevating means comprising a 1 transmission shaft, pivotally mounted gear including a shiftable gear connecting the second transmission shaft and main driving gear and a prime mover selectively connected to either transmission shaft.

3. In a self-dumping washing machine, the combination with a washing cylinder, of a main driving gear secured for rotation with said cylinder, transmission means for bodily moving said cylinder to a dumping position, transmission means for rotating said cylinder including a gear shiftable into and out of mesh with said main driving gear independently of any movement of the cylinder, control means for rendering said first mentioned power means operative or inoperative and means connected with said control means for simultaneously moving said shiftable gear out of and into mesh respectively with said main driving gear.

4. In a washing machine, the combination with a rotatable washing cylinder translatable between two predetermined positions, means for moving the cylinder between said positions, of a main driving gear secured for rotation and translatable movements with said cylinder, a transmission shaft having a gear thereon, a wide faced idler gear meshing with said transmission shaft gear, a slidabie gear engageable with said main driving gear and with said idler gear, and means for selectively coupling the power shaft to said first mentioned means whilst moving said slidable gear into a position wherein it remains in mesh with said idler gear while entirely out of mesh with said main gear to stop the rotation of the cylinder.

5. In a washing machine, the combination with a rotary washing cylinder, pivotally mounted means supporting the cylinder for bodily movement, of a gear secured for rotation with said cylinder, a second gear shiftable into and out of engagement with said first mentioned gear, a prime mover, a connection between said prime mover and shiftable gear including a constant mesh gear train, selective gearing for operatin said first means and said first mentions gear, and means for controlling the selective gearing and for shifting said shiftable gear.

6. In a washing machine of the rotary cylinder type, the combination with said cylinder, of cylinder rotating and cylinder clevating means, said elevating means comprising pivotally mounted gear sectors whereon said cylinder is supported, a transmission shaft and constant mesh gear connections between said sectors and shaft, said cylinder rotating means comprising a second transmission shaft, a gear secured for rotation with said cylinder and a disengageable gear train connecting said second transmission shaft and said gear, a prime mover, selectively operable drives to'said first and second mentioned transmission shafts from said prime mover, means for controlling said disegageable gear train and simultaneously selecting and rendering operative the proper transmission shaft by said operable drives.

7. In a washing machine of the rotary cylinder type, the combination with said cylinder, of cylinder rotating and cylinder elevating means, said elevating means comprising pivotally mounted gear sectors, a transmission shaft and constant mesh gear connections between said sectors and shaft, said cylinder rotating means comprising a second transmission shaft, a gear secured for rotation with said cylinder and a disengageable gear train connecting said second transmission shaft and said gear, a prime mover, selectively operable drives to said first and second mentioned transmission shafts, means for controlling said disengageable gear train and simultaneously selecting the proper one of said selectively operable drives, a circuit controlling switch for said prime mover, and means operated by said control means for altering the circuitcontrolling switch of said prime mover in accordance with the drive selected.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EMANUEL J. PERRY. 

